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NEWS: Tape Shows JFK Fumed Over Civil Rights Pressures

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posted on Jan, 17 2005 @ 04:24 PM
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A recently discovered tape shows the stress and strain placed on John F. Kennedy over the civil rights crisis in the United States during his presidency. The tape in question shows that Kennedy fumed when a liberal political group mentioned the now infamous picture showing a police dog attacking a black teenager. Kennedy snapped "There's no federal law we could pass to do anything about that picture in today's Times. Well, there isn't".
 



story.news.yahoo.com
BOSTON - On the afternoon of May 4, 1963, President Kennedy wasn't in a mood to mince words.

As he met in the White House with members of a liberal political group, he fumed when one of them mentioned the Associated Press photo splashed above the fold of that day's New York Times. The now-iconic photograph showed a police dog attacking a black teenager in Birmingham, Ala.

Birmingham had been aboil with civil rights demonstrations for weeks. Hundreds of black children had marched to protest segregation, and Police Commissioner Bull Connor ordered officers to disperse them with fire hoses and dogs.

"There's no federal law we could pass to do anything about that picture in today's Times. Well, there isn't," Kennedy snapped. "I mean, what law can you pass to do anything about police power in the community of Birmingham? There is nothing we can do."


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From a historical perspective, we often talk about the decisions that presidents make, but not the discussions and meetings that preceded them. This gives a real insight into the pressure Kennedy was feeling and how he was dealing with it. The argument between the group and Kennedy is a priceless example of the behind the scenes going on. No doubt they are of interest to the hard core history buff, but give an important historical perspective of the time.

[edit on 1/17/05 by FredT]



posted on Jan, 17 2005 @ 04:45 PM
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I also heard he discussed plans at the time to send hookers to Fidel Castro and get the whole thing on film to show the decadent capitalist lifestyle of this communist icon.



 
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